Danger - quit smoking - Wellbutrin

[norcaltodd]

I finally quit smoking after 30 years. Unfortunately, the medication I took to help me quit appears to be killing me! My doctor said, 'enough is enough' and put me on Wellbutrin to help me quit. Initially, it worked great and after a couple of weeks I was a 'born again non-smoker'.

After about six weeks on Wellbutrin, I stopped taking it. I thought that since I had quit smoking and I didn't have cravings, I didn't need it anymore. I had also started having problems breathing and I would lose my breath just running about 30 yards. I did not associate the Wellbutrin with the lack of "wind". Using this medication and then quitting it was a dangerous mistake.

Since I did not taper off the Wellbutrin, I started having all types of mental health problems that I did not have before. The crazy man was the cop that was responding to calls in order to solve other people's problems. This lasted for about a week before I went to my doctor and confessed that I was "a nut with a gun". Fortunately, I was scheduled for vacation.

My doctor has me going through all types of tests thinking that my heart is bad and he hasn't found the problem yet. He had me continue taking the psycho med (Wellbutrin) that I can't stop taking because I will go crazy. I also have the feeling that there is something stuck in my throat though the doctor doesn't see anything.

Watch out if you are considering quitting smoking and thinking of using Wellbutrin beware that you may have to take it for awhile because if you abruptly stop there may be complications and some departments may put you on leave until you are off of it. If you have had similiar side-effects with this medication (shortness of breath - ect.), please let me know what the solution was. I work in a very active small town and I have a couple weeks left on my vacation and I need a solution before I am "back in the game".

[LASD6833]

I have been smoking cigars for 20 years. Thank goodness I am not addicted.

Good luck weaning of off the Wellbutrin and quitting smoking. I guess you already know that it is not a good idea to take yourself off of a prescribed course of treatment w/o the doctor's okie-doke. That is especially bad with antibiotics.

[ejay]

I know a LASO CSO who was on Wellbutrin and complained of similar side effects. His sollution was to start smoking again.

[armoredman]

Medical professionals have told me quietly that Wellbutrin is a dangerous drug. I can't stand medicating myself for anything, except for aspirin. Drugs of choice are alcohol, (moderately, carefull controlled usage), nicotine, a d copious amounts of caffiene.

Best of luck sir.

[malka881]

Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed as a stop-smoking aid, but it's really like hitting an ant with an axe. One of my doc's tried to prescribe it to me for a muscle spasm (a muscle spasm of all things!) and I pitched a hissy-fit. I'm glad I did. I did some research and it's a member of a class of psych drugs called benzo's (short for something or other I don't remember) that are notoriously difficult to come off of. Going cold turkey can cause all sorts of psycological problems, up to and including suicide. Find yourself a knowledgable psychiatrist who will set you up with a schedule to wean you off of it, and stick to the schedule religiously.

Good luck, and thank you for the wisdom to take yourself off the line when you needed to.

[SHERIFF]

The only way to quit smoking is to do so cold turkey. You just have to lay 'em down and deal with the withdrawal symptoms. It's not easy in the majority of cases, but it's the only way IMHO.

[ejay]

Originally Posted by SHERIFF

The only way to quit smoking is to do so cold turkey. You just have to lay 'em down and deal with the withdrawal symptoms. It's not easy in the majority of cases, but it's the only way IMHO.

I quit by using the patch. What someone really needs is a plan and to be committed to that plan.

[SHERIFF]

Originally Posted by ejay

I quit by using the patch.

They didn't do much for me at all. Except create a burning sensation wherever I placed the patch.

Originally Posted by ejay

What someone really needs is a plan and to be committed to that plan.

I agree. Half the war is having a good plan. And sticking to it.

[detsarg]

I quit several years ago using Zyban, which is another form of Wellbrutin, and the gum. It worked for me. Cold turkey and the gum alone failed several times for me.

[deputy x 2]

Thanks for the heads up! Take care of yourself and I hope things get better!

[kr1s]

I just went cold turkey from Zoloft and Wellbutrin both for anxiety. In 5 years I put on 50lbs. My doc wouldn't listen to me even though I go to the gym 5-6 days a week and diet fairly decent.

It is the 4th week and I still get the occassional MAJOR headache. The best thing to do is to stand your ground. From what I have read, I wouldn't think that Wellbutrin would give you any heart problems...Especially for such a small amount of time.

Good luck and just search some...I have found some helpful websites to learn from. Let's me know what kind of WD symptoms I can expect. With the halflife of Welbutrin, it should be out of your system but the mind is all goofed up with the chemical reactions.

Good luck.

[PWPS11]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Wellbutrin, aka bupropion, is an anti-depressant. Other drugs that are bupropion based include zyban.

This drug is prescribed for major depression, ADHD and smoking cessation. (you know they are all the same right? )

They work by inhibiting neuronal uptake of norephinephinre, serotnonin and dopamine. (In other words it stops certain chemical reactions in the brain)

The safety warnings posted with this drug is to monitor for suicidal tendenses (sp!) and for depression to worsen.

No patient should be taking it if you are taking benzodiazapines, or using alchohol.


Every patient I have encountered that have taken this drug has had similar findings to what norcaltodd is discribing. Any patient on bupropion should slowly taper there dozes based on their doctors recommendations until they are completely of the medication. Health "effects" that patients like norcaltodd is discribing is thought to be tied to the blocking of the chemical reactions in the brain. Hence, the doctors usually say "its all in your head."

My professional advise is to consult your doc immediately. My personal advise, always research any medication you put into your body. Many out there do more harm than good now-a-days.

For some warnings about bupropion, check on the links below:


http://www.fda.gov/CDER/DRUG/infopag...on/default.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...r/a695033.html

Stay safe, be careful, and take care of yourself.

The Loo

[pkagel]

Aren't you eligible for FMLA? This side effect is quite scary, thanks for posting it.

[PicardMD]

Former California LEO, now full time critical care doc and med school professor...

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant. It's NOT a "benzo" (benzodiazepine, the class where valium, xanax, ativan belongs). It inhibits "re-uptake" of neurotransmitters such as dopamine/serotonin/norepinephrine. It actaully INCREASES the effects of these neurotransmitters in your central nervous system (by preventing the neurons who release them from "taking them back"... too complicated here to explain in detail.) This is how most antidepressants work in general. By increasing these neurotransmitters, it can sometimes (rarely) cause psychosis because increased dopamine activities have been proposed as being related to psychosis. Wellbutrin also lowers seizure threshold, and is relatively contraindicated in patients with a seizure history. There are no strong contraindications with benzodiazepine and antidepressants. They are often used together. EtOH (alcohol) may potentiate drug effects by messing around with drug metabolism in the liver (again, too complicated to go into, has to do with P450 enzyme systems, among others, for those that want to look it up). Antidepressants such as Wellbutrin can also sometimes "unmask" bipolar tendencies in the predisposed patient. It does NOT cause bipolar, but rather unmask it in those who already have the tendency by pushing them into the "manic" phase.

Antidepressants should not be stopped abruptly without tapering. Acute withdraw of antidepressants have been described as "coming down with a flu without the fever." In some patients, it requires very, very slow tapering... sometimes even over weeks to months. Very small number of patients may never be able to come off it easily without sufferring through the withdraw symptoms. And, if it "unmasked" underline bipolar disorder, then the patient is left with having to manage bipolar (again, Wellbutrin does NOT cause bipolar, merely unmasking it in those who already have it). In cases where tapering is difficult, or new "mental health" symptoms appear, consultation to a psychiatrist is highly recommended, as your average primary care doctor is not trained to deal with intricate managements of psychotropic medications.

Lastly, the best way (and the most successful way ever documented in studies) to quit smoking is to quit "cold turkey."

*** Above is NOT meant to be medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship can exist over the internet (despite what on-line pharmacies will let you to believe). My "educational spiel" cannot take place of your doctor's clinical judgement and decisions. Please talk to your doctor for your specific situations*********

P

[norcaltodd]

I want to thank those of you who have responded and I have learned alot during the past couple of weeks. Psch Meds are dangerous and using them to short cut the effects of smoking withdrawls is something that needs to be closely monitored by a doctor. I'm still not smoking but I'm trying to deal with other issues (depression, anxiety, and shortness of breath).

My doctor is weening me off of the wellbutrin and starting me on another drug. I was sane before all this started but now I'm starting to wonder.
The final moral to this issue is ask alot of questions before your doctor puts you on some type of Psych med to quit smoking. Have an action plan available if it is causing you too many side effects.

The last few weeks have been hell and I wouldn't wish them on anyone.


It's been a few weeks since all of this started. I am taking a psych me to counter act the effects of the wellbtrin. It certainly has been hell